Henry l



Quinn tstrs figurent @fitta H ENRY L. hMlLLS, OF SlT. -RA UL', MINN ES OT' Af Letters Patente-No. 69,829, dated October 15, 1867.

i i ARTIFICIAL LEG.

ToA ALL WHOM ITiMAY coNcERN Be it known that I, HENRY L.' MILLS, of' St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful improvement lin Artiticial Legs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a ful-l; clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and usc the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a rear view of my improved'articial leg.

Figure 2, a central vertical section longitudinally through the foot, taken in the line :z: x, fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a 'cross-section, in the line y y, g. 1.

Figure 4, a detail view of joint in the leather socket.

Figure 5 is a cross-section, 'in line 'zu w, tig. l1.

Figure 6, a crosslsection, in the line v o, iig. `1.

Figure 7, a cross-section, in the line z z, iig. 2.

Figure 8, a detached pespective view of the irons on lthe foot.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts..

- This invention relates to an improved method of constructing an articialileg, and consists in several devices and arrangements for securing comfort and convenience to the wearer, and making a strong, cheap, anddurable articial'limb. The principal feature of thisimprovement is the perfect adaptation ,ofv a leather socket for the stump, which may be easily separated from the frame of the leg and allowedto remain on the stump,ifor its pro tection, while sleeping, and as rapidly readjusted for use, or which may be simply loosened on the frame to relieve any pressure, and be ready at a moments notice for readjustment, to be ready for walking. There are several minor devices, important in vthemselves andtheir combination, to be hereinafter described. But only the improvements of my invention are specially exhibited and described, and acomplete limb has other wellknown attachments.

A- represents a wooden foot, in the middle of which is a large mortise, a, extending longitudinally from the forward part of the heel to the back part of the instep, with vertical. sides, the forward end of the mortise sloping forward considerably from the topV to the'bottom, and the rear end nearly vertical or sloping backward a little from the top to the bottom, as shown in iig. 2. In this mortise a is tted a straight wooden peg, I3, extending down fron and forming a. part of an ankle-piece, B', and nearly level at the lower end with thesole of the foot; The wooden'block formed of the peg B and ankle-piece 13 is pivoted transversely at c to lugs it', on an iron cap-plate, d, to make the ankle-joint; and the cap-plate d, seen in detail, fig. 8, is secured to the upper side of the foot by rivets e e, which pass-through the/heel from a bottom plate, d', by which arrangement ythe wood is bound rmly, so that it cannot split. An' iron supporting-frame, composed of four strong strips, g1g, areA riveted together' at opposite points `upon Vthe ankle-piece B', the rivets crossing each other at right .angles, as seen in iig. 6, to give the wood greater strength at a point where it is especially required. Above the ankle-piece B the frame g g'expands, to conform in shape to the calf of the leg, and enclose the socket O for amputations below the knee, while the frame may be extended as required for enclosing sockets to fit the stumps of that class of amputationsv above the knee.` The frame strips g g are united by two or more bands, the lower one, L, being made of metal, and the upper one, h', of metal and leather combined, as shown in iig. 2 The bands are riveted to the bars g g of the frame, thus forming'a stili` and firm bed-support for the leather lsocket C, which is enclosed in the frame. The socket C is adapted to the stump when it is made, by cutting the leather lto iit1the stump while dry as nearly as possible. The socket is then sewed together, and afterwards wet and thoroughly soaked with water, to make the leather soft and pliant, in order then to t it carefully and exactly to all the bearing points of the stump, which perfectadaptation to the surface of the stump the leather socket will retain when dry, and consequently always be easy and comfortable to the wearer. The socket C is attached to the person of the wearer by strapsk ,7c fastened to the upper edge of the sides oi the socket, and is attached to the iron framegg'by wing straps 7c 7s', cgnnected by buttons, 'snap-hooks, orbuckles mm, by' which arrangementl it will be seen that the socket may be readily loosened or detached fromthc frame g g, to remain on the stump for its protection, While the franse may be fastened on again quickly. In order to secure thc socket virmly to the iron frame a bar, n, is pivoted to the band t in the rear of the leg, the upper end of which bar,

catches on an iron plate, p, riveted to the lower part of the socket C, and held in the catch by an India-rubber or any suitable spring, s, placed on the lower end and bearing against the ankle-piece B. For releasing the catch of the connecting-bar n, to detach the frame g g from the socket and take it oii entirely, it is only necessary to bear the toe ofthe shoe or boot on the other leg against the lower end of the bar, to press in the spring s; the frame is then taken off in the same manner a boot is taken o' of one leg by the aid of the other boot. Below the spring s, and bearing up against it, is attached a vertical heelspring,u, formed of a pin covered with India-ruber tubing. The lower end ofthe pin sets in a hole in the upper side ofthe heel, in which it moves up and down, While the elasticity o the rubber regulates the position of the foot A in walking, by bearing down the heel at every step forward, as the foot swings on the pivot of the ankle-joint at c, and the peg B plays back and forth in the mortise a. The spring u may be attached at one end by a leather Hap or a hinge.

Having tlius described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The adjustable and movable leather socket C, constructed, applied, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

2. The combination of the iron frame gg, secured by rivets to the ankle-piece B', the bands t t, the straps k c, and the socket C, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes set fortll.

3. The spring-bar n, pivoted to the band t, in combination with the socket C, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose spceied.

4. The plates d d on the upper and lower sides of the heel of the foot A, secured by the rivets e e, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The peg B and ankle-piece B', pivoted to the plate b and fitted in the mortise a, in combination with the framegg and the foot A, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purppses herein set forth.

HENRY L. MILLS.

Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS LAINS, O'rro C. MACKLETT. 

